Hovels and Floods

Around the Vale of Evesham in the early 20th century many market gardeners built shelters known as hovels. It was a place to keep tools and also to rest and refresh during a hard days work. This example close to Badsey Brook is in excellent condition compared to many which have fallen into a bad state. The white writing on the left indicates the level Badsey Brook reached during the floods of July 2007. The normal level of the brook is around 2 metres lower than the base of the hovel. The whole village became an island for a few days with no way in or out.